The China Mail - New Zealand's Latham and Conway pile on the runs before Stokes breakthrough

The Black Caps were still well-placed on 361-4 at stumps on Thursday's opening day, with this three-match series all square at 1-1.

But they had been 317-0 while New Zealand captain Latham, capitalising on winning a good toss in sweltering heat, made 151 and fellow left-handed opener Conway 157 before they were both dismissed in the final session to spark a mini-collapse.

The two 34-year-olds' partnership was the highest for any New Zealand wicket in a Test against England, surpassing the 276 shared by Stewie Dempster and Jackie Mills at Wellington back in 1930.

Latham and Conway were on the verge of breaking the record for the highest opening stand against England -- 338 by South Africa's Grame Smith and Herschelle Gibbs at Edgbaston in 2003 -- when, after a couple of dropped chances, they were finally separated.

Not for the first time it was the inspirational Stokes, recalled alongside paceman Gus Atkinson after missing England's crushing 253-run defeat by New Zealand in the second Test for breaking a midnight curfew celebrating his side's win in the series opener at Lord's, who broke through.

- Stokes snares Latham -

Seam-bowling all-rounder Stokes, almost by force of will, had a tired Latham edging a good-length delivery and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who had dropped the New Zealand skipper on 129 after sitting out the second Test on paternity leave, made no mistake.

The old adage that 'one wicket brings two' proved accurate as New Zealand's 317-1 became 319-2 in the next over when Conway holed out to part-time spinner Joe Root, with substitute Matt Fisher taking a fine running catch at long-on.

Rachin Ravindra gave his wicket away when he skyed Atkinson to Smith and Henry Nicholls, fresh from his century at the Oval, fell for 36 to what became the day's last ball when caught behind off Jofra Archer after being struck flush on the helmet by the fast bowler.

Stokes had previously brought on off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who hadn't bowled in a Test in more than a year, in the 11th over -- unusually early for a slow bowler.

Bashir, however, almost struck when Conway, then on 18, mistimed a drive off a well-flighted delivery only for the ball to just evade a diving Root at short extra-cover.

Stokes brought himself on, to cheers from the crowd, for the 20th over, with New Zealand 64-0 but Conway drove his second ball for four.

Latham then completed a 149-ball hundred with successive boundaries off Stokes -- a slashing cut followed by a leg-glance. It was his 17th century in 95 Tests.

New Zealand were 213-0 at tea, with Latham 109 not out and Conway unbeaten on 94.

Conway completed his eighth hundred in 36 Tests with consecutive fours off Bashir, lofting him over wide long-on and square-driving him through point.

He then struck superb sixes in successive overs, advancing down the pitch to loft a Bashir full-toss high over deep midwicket and pulling Tongue over long leg.

Conway was on 130 when a diving Ben Duckett could only get the tips of his fingers to a tough chance at square leg.

Latham, however, should have been out for 129 when he gloved Atkinson down the legside only for Smith to miss the routine chance as the ball went straight through his gloves and hit his chest.

R.Yeung--ThChM